Fri, January 10, 2025 at 5:40 AM PST
- The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched the NROL-153 mission into space late Thursday from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California with "classified payloads."
- The satellites have advanced remote-sensing capabilities to give real-time data on military enemy movements and other intelligence to support U.S. operations.
- The NRO launched six missions last year and including Thursday's launch has five more on the horizon in 2025.
“Building on the success of the NROL-149 launch on Dec. 17, today’s mission demonstrates the ongoing launch cadence that is strengthening the NRO’s intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities,” the agency said Jan. 9 in a statement.
The NROL-153 mission adds to a growing network of smaller, distributed satellites aimed at enhancing the resilience and responsiveness of U.S. space-based intelligence systems. The NRO, which oversees the development and operation of the country’s spy satellites, has deployed nearly 100 satellites over the past year.
The agency plans about a dozen launches in 2025, half of which will focus on its proliferated architecture — a strategy that moves away from traditional large, expensive satellites in favor of smaller, more numerous spacecraft. This shift aims to provide greater coverage, faster data delivery, and increased resistance to threats such as anti-satellite weapons.
The NRO’s proliferated architecture relies on satellites built by SpaceX and Northrop Grumman. While details of the payloads remain classified, the satellites are equipped with advanced remote-sensing capabilities to provide real-time data on enemy movements and other critical intelligence to support U.S. military operations.
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